For years, he hadn’t understood how his peers—his brother and cousins and his cousins-in-law—could be so settled and content with their lives.
He saw the answer now.
They all had families.
He’d always assumed that having a family wouldn’t work for him, that managing a family wouldn’t hold his interest in the way it did for other males of his age.
Perhaps he’d been wrong.
For long moments, he dwelled on that possibility and what it might mean.
Diana’s assertion that he needed purpose in his life echoed in his mind.
“Oh!”
The warbling exclamation drew Toby’s gaze to Bryce, who was leaning far over the rowboat’s side.
Toby lunged and caught the back of Bryce’s jacket just in time to stop him from falling into the lake.
* * *
The islanders were veryproud of their church, and after some prompting, the next morning, Toby escorted Diana and the children to view the Basilica di San Giulio.
Masses had been held the day before, both in the morning and the evening, but as it was Monday, the church was quiet and, as they discovered on venturing inside, presently empty.
With the children, Diana spent a pleasant hour wandering down the aisles of the nave and the chapels and along the galleries, examining the frescoes, carvings, and monuments that liberally decorated the church. The boys were fascinated with the depictions of animals, both those they recognized and the mythological creatures. Unsurprisingly, Evelyn was taken with the frescoes and statues of the Virgin and Child and also found a small carving of a bear to show Rupert.
To Diana’s eye, the artworks in the church were surprisingly extensive and well preserved.
When she mentioned that to Toby, he hypothesized that, being on an island, the locals had been able to protect the church’s treasures. “I know the collection’s been added to many times over the centuries, but I’ve never heard that any of it has been lost.”
“I suppose it’s not quite so surprising if you consider that this”—she gestured at the quiet magnificence around them—“is the result of centuries of devotion and offerings.”
The children clattered up to where she and Toby sat in a pew not far from the main altar, just as a side door opened and a priest came in.
He saw them and beamed. “Signor Toby! I had heard that you had returned.”
Toby greeted the cleric and introduced Diana and the children.
Father Francesco was delighted to learn that they had come to see the wonders of the church and immediately drew the children’s attention to the beautiful carvings of animals on the raised pulpit.
While the trio and the priest examined the carvings, Diana glanced at Toby. After being on the island for three days, she couldn’t say she was surprised that even the priest knew him and, apparently, regarded him fondly, even though it was highly unlikely that Toby had ever been one of his flock, even temporarily.
The children returned, bursting to tell her and Toby of facts they’d learned from Father Francesco.
The good father beamed as he joined them. “They are very observant and sharp-eyed. But now, I must get on.”
He raised a hand and wished them safe travel on their journey home, then he bowed and, after they’d said their farewells, left them and walked deeper into the basilica.
“Right, then.” Toby eyed the children. “Are we ready to go on?”
“Yes!” the trio chorused.
Smiling, Diana joined him in ushering the three into the sunshine.
It was only as they passed through the church’s doors and out of the cool shade that she realized the priest had seen nothing odd in Toby having—as it must have appeared—a wife and family.
As Toby shepherded the children toward the piazza, he heard flying footsteps behind them, coming from the direction of the dock. He, Diana, and the children paused, and the three boys who had joined Toby, Roland, and Bryce on the pier the day before came pelting up.
